Medical instrument

Abstract

The invention relates to a medical instrument comprising at least one movable tool element and at least one actuating element which is mounted such as to be pivotal about a pivotal axis and is coupled to the at least one tool element for the purposes of moving the tool element as a result of a pivotal movement of the actuating element, wherein, for the pivotal mounting of the at least one actuating element, there is provided a pivotal bearing comprising a bearing shaft holder and a bearing shaft which is held in the bearing shaft holder in a working position, wherein the at least one actuating element incorporates the bearing shaft or the bearing shaft holder, wherein the bearing shaft holder has an insertion opening and is insertable through the insertion opening into the bearing shaft holder in a direction that is transverse or substantially transverse to the pivotal axis.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A medical instrument, comprising:
 at least one movable tool element, 
 at least one actuating element which is mounted so as to be pivotal about a pivotal axis, the at least one actuating element being directly or indirectly coupled to the at least one tool element for moving the at least one tool element as a result of a pivotal movement of the at least one actuating element, and 
 a pivotal bearing for the pivotal mounting of the at least one actuating element, the pivotal bearing comprising a bearing shaft holder and a bearing shaft which is held in the bearing shaft holder in a working position, 
 wherein: 
 the at least one actuating element incorporates the bearing shaft or the bearing shaft holder, 
 the bearing shaft holder has an insertion opening, 
 in an assembly position, the bearing shaft is insertable through the insertion opening into the bearing shaft holder in a direction that is transverse or substantially transverse to the pivotal axis, 
 the bearing shaft holder comprises a stop for limiting a pivotal movement of the at least one actuating element in the working position in which the bearing shaft is held captive in the bearing shaft holder, 
 the at least one actuating element comprises two actuating elements, and 
 the stop comprises a stop surface on which a flattened portion of the bearing shaft abuts flatly at least to a partial extent in a position in which the two actuating elements are pivoted away from each other or towards one another to a maximum extent. 
 
     
     
       2. The medical instrument in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the bearing shaft that has been inserted into the bearing shaft holder is movable from the assembly position into the working position in which the bearing shaft is held captive in the bearing shaft holder by pivoting it about the pivotal axis. 
     
     
       3. The medical instrument in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the insertion opening is in the form of a slot opening the bearing shaft holder on one side thereof. 
     
     
       4. The medical instrument in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the slot extends away from the pivotal axis in a radial direction. 
     
     
       5. The medical instrument in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the slot comprises mutually facing inner surfaces. 
     
     
       6. The medical instrument in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the inner surfaces run parallel or substantially parallel to a plane containing the pivotal axis. 
     
     
       7. The medical instrument in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the slot has a width which is smaller than a diameter defined by the bearing shaft holder. 
     
     
       8. The medical instrument in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein bearing shaft holder comprises at least one hollow cylindrical inner wall surface section which is concentric with the pivotal axis. 
     
     
       9. The medical instrument in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein an outer diameter of the bearing shaft which is defined by at least one cylindrical wall surface section, and an inner diameter of the bearing shaft holder which is defined by at least one inner wall surface section are mutually adapted for play-free or substantially play-free pivoting of the bearing shaft in the bearing shaft holder. 
     
     
       10. The medical instrument in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the bearing shaft comprises at least one cylindrical wall surface section which is concentric with the pivotal axis. 
     
     
       11. The medical instrument in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the bearing shaft is formed from a cylindrical or substantially cylindrical base body and has two flattened portions which are laterally spaced from the pivotal axis. 
     
     
       12. The medical instrument in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the flattened portions run in parallel with each other. 
     
     
       13. The medical instrument in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein a spacing of the flattened portions from each other is smaller than a width of the insertion opening. 
     
     
       14. The medical instrument in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising an actuating device which comprises the two actuating elements,
 the two actuating elements comprising a first actuating element which is movable and a second actuating element which is arranged immovably on the instrument. 
 
     
     
       15. The medical instrument in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the stop is in the form of a projection that is formed on the bearing shaft holder. 
     
     
       16. The medical instrument in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the stop defines the position of the two actuating elements in which they are pivoted away from each other or towards one another to the maximum extent. 
     
     
       17. The medical instrument in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the at least one actuating element is in the form of a pivotal branch which comprises a first coupling element which, in a coupling position, is movable into engagement with a second coupling element which is arranged or formed on the at least one tool element or on a force transmission member that is coupled thereto. 
     
     
       18. The medical instrument in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a restoring device for automatically transferring the at least one actuating element from a position in which it is deflected from a basic position back into the basic position, wherein the basic position defines the working position in which the at least one actuating element is rotated though a largest pivotal angle in relation to the assembly position. 
     
     
       19. The medical instrument in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein the restoring device comprises at least one restoring member which is supported directly or indirectly on the at least one actuating element or is held thereon. 
     
     
       20. The medical instrument in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the instrument is in the form of a sliding shaft instrument incorporating a sliding shaft comprising two mutually displacable shaft parts. 
     
     
       21. The medical instrument in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein the at least one tool element is arranged or formed at a distal end of the sliding shaft. 
     
     
       22. The medical instrument in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein the sliding shaft instrument is in the form of a bone punch. 
     
     
       23. The medical instrument in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the bearing shaft is formed in a one piece manner with the instrument or the at least one actuating element.